病毒样颗粒抗原的表达、纯化、组装和鉴定

病毒样颗粒(Virus-like particles,VLPs)是由一种或多种病毒结构蛋白组装成的的颗粒,具有与病毒颗粒相似的外部结构和抗原性,但不含病毒基因。以预防乙型肝炎病毒、乳头瘤病毒和戊型肝炎病毒感染为目的的三种VLP疫苗已被批准在人体应用。可采用细菌、酵母、昆虫细胞、哺乳动物细胞、植物细胞系统表达VLP抗原。表达的VLP抗原可经裂解、粗提、浓縮和精制四个基本步骤纯化。解聚/重组装处理可能增强VLP抗原的效力和稳定性。在研制和生产VLP疫苗的过程中要对VLP抗原的品质、含量、效力和纯度进行检测。     

戊型肝炎病毒样颗粒在重组汉逊酵母中的发酵表达、纯化及其免疫原性分析

为了研制戊型肝炎新型基因工程疫苗,利用汉逊酵母表达系统表达重组戊型肝炎病毒样颗粒,成功构建了重组戊型肝炎疫苗工程菌株HP/HEV2.3,对该菌株的发酵条件和纯化工艺进行了研究。先将工作种子批进行发酵培养,收集发酵后的细胞培养物;对其先后进行细胞破碎、澄清和超滤、硅胶吸附和解吸附、超滤浓缩换液、色谱纯化及除菌过滤,制得重组汉逊酵母戊型肝炎病毒样颗粒,纯化收率为33%,纯度达99%;电镜观察显示该重组汉逊酵母戊型肝炎病毒样颗粒与天然戊型肝炎病毒颗粒理论大小一致,为32 nm;基因序列与理论一致;SDS-PAGE分析结果表明其表达的外源蛋白质分子量与预期的目的蛋白质分子量大小一致,均为56 k Da,表达量占细胞总蛋白的26%,表达水平为1.0 g/L发酵液;Western blotting、ELISA活性检测及小鼠免疫接种效力试验ED_(50)结果表明,此重组汉逊酵母戊型肝炎病毒样颗粒具有良好的抗原性和免疫原性,可用于制造戊型肝炎新型基因工程疫苗。     

人乳头瘤病毒样颗粒组装研究进展

病毒样颗粒(Virus-like particles,VLPs)作为一种形态结构与真病毒高度相似的空心颗粒,具有真病毒类似特性,在机体内能刺激免疫系统产生高滴度的中和抗体,又因为其缺乏核酸无法复制,近年来一直被作为理想的候选疫苗蛋白。目前上市的三种人类乳头瘤病毒(Human papillomavirus,HPV)疫苗都是属于基因工程VLP疫苗。对于HPV VLP组装的研究能够更好的为疫苗研发方面提供更多的优化手段。该文旨在总结这十几年人乳头瘤病毒VLP组装的研究进展,为HPV以及其它病毒的基因工程疫苗研发提供更多有价值的信息,为人类健康作出贡献。     

大肠杆菌来源的人乳头瘤病毒11型病毒样颗粒的制备及其免疫原性

摘要：【目的】 利用大肠杆菌表达系统制备人乳头瘤病毒11型病毒样颗粒（HPV11 VLPs）,并对其免疫原性和所诱导中和抗体的型交叉反应性进行研究。 【方法】 在大肠杆菌ER2566中非融合表达HPV11-L1蛋白,并通过离子交换层析,疏水相互作用层析其进行纯化。纯化后的HPV11-L1经体外组装形成病毒样颗粒,通过动态光散射,透射电镜检测其形态,并通过多种HPV型别假病毒中和实验评价HPV11 VLPs的免疫原性及型交叉反应性。 【结果】 HPV11-L1蛋白在大肠杆菌中可以以可溶形式表达。经过硫酸铵沉     

人乳头瘤病毒16型预防性疫苗的研究进展

人乳头瘤病毒16型(HPV16)与宫颈癌的发生关系密切,由于该病毒尚不能在体外有效培养,而限制了预防性疫苗的研究进展.目前通过分子生物学方法在体外表达HPV16病毒样颗粒(VLPs)成为预防性疫苗研究的热点.研究表明VLPs可诱导机体产生抗病毒攻击的细胞免疫和体液免疫应答,从而为预防性基因工程亚单位疫苗的研究提供了重要科学依据.     

人乳头瘤病毒疫苗的研究进展

人乳头瘤病毒（ＨＰＶ）是公认的几种瘤病毒之一,与多种人类良、恶性肿瘤的发生密切相关。有效疫苗的研制,对控制ＨＰＶ感染和ＨＰＶ相关肿瘤的免疫治疗都有十分重要的意义。本文就近年来ＨＰＶ的肽疫苗、重组病毒（细菌）疫苗,病毒样颗粒（ＶＬＰ）疫苗以及ＤＮＡ疫苗的研究进展作一综述。     

靶向小衣壳蛋白L2的具有广泛保护性的VLP型HPV疫苗的临床前优化

正理想的预防人类乳头瘤病毒(HPV)疫苗应该具备以下特性,即能够提供广泛的保护性和持久的免疫应答,能够应对所有高危人乳头瘤病毒类型,单一剂量注射后即产生免疫效果,在无需制冷的条件下能够长期保存。基于以上要求,作者已经研制出由噬菌体病毒样颗粒(VLPs)组成的HPV候选疫苗,该噬菌体病毒样颗粒具有广泛的HPV16次要衣壳蛋白L2来源的中和表位。免疫接种16L2 VLPs     

人乳头瘤病毒16型和11型L1基因双价重组杆状病毒转移质粒的构建及鉴定

目的：构建人乳头瘤病毒16型与11型L1基因双价重组杆状病毒转移质粒并对其进行鉴定。方法：采用：PCR法从尖锐湿疣组织标本中扩增人乳头瘤病毒11型晚期基因L1,并对其进行克隆测序;利用基因重组技术将人乳头瘤病毒16型和11型L1晚期基因共同装入杆状病毒转移载体中,分别位于强启动子Ppolh和弱启动子P10之下;利用酶切和PCR技术对双价重组杆状病毒转移质粒进行鉴定。结果：PCR扩增法获得尖税湿疣组织中感染的人乳头瘤病毒11型的L1基因,得到人乳头瘤病毒16型L1和11型L1基因双价重组杆状病毒转移质粒,经酶切电泳鉴定验证重组成功。结论：本研究成功构建了双价重组杆状病毒转移质粒,为进一步构建双价L1蛋白表达系统进而建立双价基因工程亚单位疫苗打下基础。     

戊型肝炎病毒疫苗的研发和评价

由戊型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis E virus,HEV)导致的疾病日渐引起人们的关注。中国目前已经上市的HEV疫苗为万泰沧海生物技术公司(INNOVAX)研发的大肠杆菌表达的I型中国分离株ORF2 p239重组疫苗HEV 239(Hecolin),它能形成病毒样颗粒从而产生更好的免疫原性。该疫苗在HEV高危人群和高流行地区的使用将对戊型肝炎的流行起到积极的防控作用。回顾了HEV疫苗研究的历史过程,并探讨了目前HEV疫苗评价方法面临的问题及研究思路。     

抗Ⅱ型HPV的重组类病毒颗粒的I期试验

在动物模型中证实某些乳头瘤病毒的L1蛋白衍生的类病毒颗粒(VLPs)能够保护抗活病毒攻击。作在人类志愿中测定了Ⅱ型人乳头瘤病毒L1　VLP候选制剂的安全性和免疫原性。结果表明这种疫苗具有良好的耐受性,并且能够诱导高水平的结合抗体和中和抗体,抗Ⅱ型乳头瘤L1抗原的淋巴细胞增生于第二剂接种后明显出现。此外,在用6型和16型乳头瘤病毒的异源性L1　VIP刺激后外周血单核细胞中呈现淋巴细胞增生,从外周血单核细胞培养上清中可测出乳头瘤病毒抗原特异性γ干扰素及IL—5的产生具有统计学意义的显增加。这种乳头瘤病毒VLP疫苗候选制剂既诱导强有力的B细胞应答,又诱导T细胞应答,而且协助性T细胞表位似乎是保守的。     

Different applications of virus‐like particles in biology and medicine: Vaccination and delivery systems

Virus‐like particles (VLPs) mimic the whole construct of virus particles devoid of viral genome as used in subunit vaccine design. VLPs can elicit efficient protective immunity as direct immunogens compared to soluble antigens co‐administered with adjuvants in several booster injections. Up to now, several prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems such as insect, yeast, plant, and E. coli were used to express recombinant proteins, especially for VLP production. Recent studies are also generating VLPs in plants using different transient expression vectors for edible vaccines. VLPs and viral particles have been applied for different functions such as gene therapy, vaccination, nanotechnology, and diagnostics. Herein, we describe VLP production in different systems as well as its applications in biology and medicine. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 105: 113–132, 2016.     

Effect of the DnaK chaperone on the conformational quality of JCV VP1 virus‐like particles produced in Escherichia coli

Protein nanoparticles such as virus‐like particles (VLPs) can be obtained by recombinant protein production of viral capsid proteins and spontaneous self‐assembling in cell factories. Contrarily to infective viral particles, VLPs lack infective viral genome while retaining important viral properties like cellular tropism and intracellular delivery of internalized molecules. These properties make VLPs promising and fully biocompatible nanovehicles for drug delivery. VLPs of human JC virus (hJCV) VP1 capsid protein produced in Escherichia coli elicit variable hemagglutination properties when incubated at different NaCl concentrations and pH conditions, being optimal at 200 mM NaCl and at pH range between 5.8 and 7.5. In addition, the presence or absence of chaperone DnaK in E. coli cells influence the solubility of recombinant VP1 and the conformational quality of this protein in the VLPs. The hemagglutination ability of hJCV VP1 VLPs contained in E. coli cell extracts can be modulated by buffer composition in the hemagglutination assay. It has been also determined that the production of recombinant hJCV VP1 in E. coli is favored by the absence of chaperone DnaK as observed by Western Blot analysis in different E. coli genetic backgrounds, indicating a proteolysis targeting role for DnaK. However, solubility is highly compromised in a DnaK^? E. coli strain suggesting an important role of this chaperone in reduction of protein aggregates. Finally, hemagglutination efficiency of recombinant VP1 is directly related to the presence of DnaK in the producing cells. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 30:744–748, 2014     

Virus-like particles-universal molecular toolboxes

Virus-like particles (VLPs) are highly organised spheres that self-assemble from virus-derived structural antigens. These stable and versatile subviral particles possess excellent adjuvant properties capable of inducing innate and cognate immune responses. Commercialised VLP-based vaccines have been successful in protecting humans from hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and are currently explored for their potential to combat other infectious diseases and cancer. Much insight into VLP-mediated immune stimulation and optimised VLP design has been gained from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-derived VLPs presenting promising components of current AIDS vaccine approaches. Owing to their unique features, VLPs and virosomes, the in vitro-reconstituted VLP counterparts, have recently gained ground in the field of nanobiotechnology as organic templates for the development of new biomaterials.     

Virus-like particles as immunogens

Subunit vaccines based on recombinant proteins can suffer from poor immunogenicity owing to incorrect folding of the target protein or poor presentation to the immune system. Virus-like particles (VLPs) represent a specific class of subunit vaccine that mimic the structure of authentic virus particles. They are recognized readily by the immune system and present viral antigens in a more authentic conformation than other subunit vaccines. VLPs have therefore shown dramatic effectiveness as candidate vaccines. Here, we review the current status of VLPs as vaccines, and discuss the characteristics and problems associated with producing VLPs for different viruses.     

Virus-like particles: designing an effective AIDS vaccine

Viruses that infect eukaryotic organisms have the unique characteristic of self-assembling into particles. The mammalian immune system is highly attuned to recognizing and attacking these viral particles following infection. The use of particle-based immunogens, often delivered as live-attenuated viruses, has been an effective vaccination strategy for a variety of viruses. The development of an effective vaccine against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has proven to be a challenge, since HIV infects cells of the immune system causing severe immunodeficiency resulting in the syndrome known as AIDS. In addition, the ability of the virus to adapt to immune pressure and reside in an integrated form in host cells presents hurdles for vaccinologists to overcome. A particle-based vaccine strategy has promise for eliciting high titer, long-lived, immune responses to a diverse number of viral epitopes against different HIV antigens. Live-attenuated viruses are effective at generating both cellular and humoral immune responses. However, while these vaccines stimulate immunity, challenged animals rarely clear the viral infection and the degree of attenuation directly correlates with protection from disease. Further, a live-attenuated vaccine has the potential to revert to a pathogenic form. Alternatively, virus-like particles (VLPs) mimic the viral particle without causing an immunodeficiency disease. VLPs are self-assembling, non-replicating, non-pathogenic particles that are similar in size and conformation to intact virions. A variety of VLPs for lentiviruses are currently in preclinical and clinical trials. This review focuses on our current status of VLP-based AIDS vaccines, regarding issues of purification and immune design for animal and clinical trials.     

Suitability and perspectives on using recombinant insect cells for the production of virus-like particles

Virus-like particles (VLPs) can be produced in recombinant protein production systems by expressing viral surface proteins that spontaneously assemble into particulate structures similar to authentic viral or subviral particles. VLPs serve as excellent platforms for the development of safe and effective vaccines and diagnostic antigens. Among various recombinant protein production systems, the baculovirus–insect cell system has been used extensively for the production of a wide variety of VLPs. This system is already employed for the manufacture of a licensed human papillomavirus-like particle vaccine. However, the baculovirus–insect cell system has several inherent limitations including contamination of VLPs with progeny baculovirus particles. Stably transformed insect cells have emerged as attractive alternatives to the baculovirus–insect cell system. Different types of VLPs, with or without an envelope and composed of either single or multiple structural proteins, have been produced in stably transformed insect cells. VLPs produced by stably transformed insect cells have successfully elicited immune responses in vivo. In some cases, the yield of VLPs attained with recombinant insect cells was comparable to, or higher than, that obtained by baculovirus-infected insect cells. Recombinant insect cells offer a promising approach to the development and production of VLPs.     

Assembly and immunogenicity of baculovirus-derived infectious bronchitis virus–like particles carrying membrane,envelope and the recombinant spike proteins

Objective

To assemble infectious bronchitis virus (IBV)-like particles bearing the recombinant spike protein and investigate the humoral immune responses in chickens.

Results

IBV virus-like particles (VLPs) were generated through the co-infection with three recombinant baculoviruses separately encoding M, E or the recombinant S genes. The recombinant S protein was sufficiently flexible to retain the ability to self-assemble into VLPs. The size and morphology of the VLPs were similar to authentic IBV particles. In addition, the immunogenicity of IBV VLPs had been investigated. The results demonstrated that the efficiency of the newly generated VLPs was comparable to that of the inactivated M41 viruses in eliciting IBV-specific antibodies and neutralizing antibodies in chickens via subcutaneous inoculation.

Conclusions

This work provides basic information for the mechanism of IBV VLP formation and develops a platform for further designing IBV VLP-based vaccines against IBV or other viruses.

     

Self-assembly of virus-like particles of canine parvovirus capsid protein expressed from Escherichia coli and application as virus-like particle vaccine

Canine parvovirus disease is an acute infectious disease caused by canine parvovirus (CPV). Current commercial vaccines are mainly attenuated and inactivated; as such, problems concerning safety may occur. To resolve this problem, researchers developed virus-like particles (VLPs) as biological nanoparticles resembling natural virions and showing high bio-safety. This property allows the use of VLPs for vaccine development and mechanism studies of viral infections. Tissue-specific drug delivery also employs VLPs as biological nanomaterials. Therefore, VLPs derived from CPV have a great potential in medicine and diagnostics. In this study, small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) fusion motif was utilized to express a whole, naturalVP2 protein of CPV in Escherichia coli. After the cleavage of the fusion motif, the CPV VP2 protein has self-assembled into VLPs. The VLPs had a size and shape that resembled the authentic virus capsid. However, the self-assembly efficiency of VLPs can be affected by different pH levels and ionic strengths. The mice vaccinated subcutaneously with CPV VLPs and CPV-specific immune responses were compared with those immunized with the natural virus. This result showed that VLPs can effectively induce anti-CPV specific antibody and lymphocyte proliferation as a whole virus. This result further suggested that the antigen epitope of CPV was correctly present on VLPs, thereby showing the potential application of a VLP-based CPV vaccine.     

Production of the virus‐like particles of nipah virus matrix protein in Pichia pastoris as diagnostic reagents

The matrix (M) protein of Nipah virus (NiV) is a peripheral protein that plays a vital role in the envelopment of nucleocapsid protein and acts as a bridge between the viral surface and the nucleocapsid proteins. The M protein is also proven to play an important role in production of virus‐like particles (VLPs) and is essential for assembly and budding of NiV particles. The recombinant M protein produced in Escherichia coli assembled into VLPs in the absence of the viral surface proteins. However, the E. coli produced VLPs are smaller than the native virus particles. Therefore, the aims of this study were to produce NiV M protein in Pichia pastoris, to examine the structure of the VLPs formed, and to assess the potential of the VLPs as a diagnostic reagent. The M protein was successfully expressed in P. pastoris and was detected with anti‐myc antibody using Western blotting. The VLPs formed by the recombinant M protein were purified with sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation, high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography (IMAC). Immunogold staining and transmission electron microscopy confirmed that the M protein assembled into VLPs as large as 200 nm. ELISA revealed that the NiV M protein produced in P. pastoris reacted strongly with positive NiV sera demonstrating its potential as a diagnostic reagent. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 32:1038–1045, 2016     

Efficient assembly and release of SARS coronavirus-like particles by a heterologous expression system

Virus-like particles (VLPs) produced by recombinant expression of the major viral structural proteins could be an attractive method for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) control. In this study, using the baculovirus system, we generated recombinant viruses that expressed S, E, M and N structural proteins of SARS-CoV either individually or simultaneously. The expression level, size and authenticity of each recombinant SARS-CoV protein were determined. In addition, immunofluorescence and FACS analysis confirmed the cell surface expression of the S protein. Co-infections of insect cells with two recombinant viruses demonstrated that M and E could assemble readily to form smooth surfaced VLPs. On the other hand, simultaneous high level expression of S, E and M by a single recombinant virus allowed the very efficient assembly and release of VLPs. These data demonstrate that the VLPs are morphological mimics of virion particles. The high level expression of VLPs with correct S protein conformation by a single recombinant baculovirus offers a potential candidate vaccine for SARS.